Cracking Social Mobility: How AI and Other Innovations Can Help to Level the Playing Field

In the UK and most countries today, a person’s life chances are unfairly influenced by their socio-economic circumstances at birth. This has led to societal divides that have become wider and more pronounced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. There is now heightened awareness that the current state of affairs is unacceptable. Innovative approaches are urgently needed in order to combat social immobility.

Drawing upon the latest research, Social Mobility Cracked explores the factors that contribute to social immobility, and puts forward focused, innovative solutions. The book impresses upon readers that social mobility is a societal goal worth striving towards, and that societies can take strides in the right direction by harnessing the power of digital innovation. From democratizing the private tuition sector and enhancing the effectiveness of teaching and learning, to supporting inclusive recruitment practices, technologies can help to level the playing field. A heartfelt call to action, this book explores how this can be achieved.

Tom Moule is the Executive Lead of the Institute for Ethical AI in Education, and is an authority on the societal and ethical impacts of artificial intelligence in education. In his role he has worked closely with numerous influencers from the technology and education sectors, the media, and policy and government. Prior to this, he worked as a teacher, primarily in schools in deprived areas, and was also employed by a leading education technology company.